When Kiara Duprey, then 24, and her partner Javier Floreniani learned at their 12-week scan that their unborn daughter’s arms and legs were not developing properly, doctors strongly encouraged them to terminate the pregnancy. Medical staff initially suspected Roberts syndrome, a rare genetic condition, and warned that the baby was unlikely to survive to full term.

Kiara refused. “God did this for a reason,” she later said. “This is the way God decided to bring her to us. Just because she’s coming a little different doesn’t mean I should abort her.” Against expectations, baby Arianna Floreniani was born by scheduled caesarean section on 28 July 2023, weighing exactly 5 lbs (2.27 kg). She was diagnosed with transverse limb deficiency — a condition in which the limbs appear truncated, as if amputated — and spent a week in hospital being monitored for a heart murmur before going home.

By eight months old, Arianna was already surprising her parents and doctors. She could sit up independently, hold her bottle, attempt to replace her pacifier when it fell out, and continually found creative ways to interact with her environment. The family is waiting to assess when she may be ready for prosthetic limbs.

After sharing her story online, Kiara faced harsh criticism from trolls who called her “selfish” for choosing to continue the pregnancy. She has pushed back firmly, stating that as long as Arianna is happy, that is what matters, and that her daughter is “beautiful no matter what.” The couple, from the Philadelphia area, emphasise that Arianna is otherwise healthy and determined.

Arianna’s early progress and her mother’s public defence of their decision have drawn both support and debate. The family continues to focus on her development and future possibilities with adaptive equipment and prosthetics.

Sources

• Daily Mail, The Sun, Lancs Live and related interviews with Kiara Duprey (April 2024)
• Family statements detailing the 12-week diagnosis, decision to continue the pregnancy, Arianna’s birth on 28 July 2023, and her developmental milestones at eight months